# pdf vs XNote

The clearest difference is rating: XNote at 4.6 against pdf's 3.3. XNote also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). pdf's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 60%). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pdf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. XNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

XNote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 76 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of pdf's written reviews are positive against 60% of XNote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, XNote weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and August 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pdf | XNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-for-ipad-ads/id391487223/reviews) | **[4.6 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-infinite-boards-and-notes/id1644300153/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **76** |
| Positive reviews | **68.3% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 141 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AMuseTec Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342152781) | [华清 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643454681) |

## What reviewers say

### pdf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-notes-for-ipad-ads/id391487223)

Manage and annotate PDF files on your iPad with fast page turning and intuitive finger-writing. Easily import PDFs, organize them into bookshelves, and export annotated versions via email. Features include zoom, cropping, and multiple pen options.

**Highlights:** Fast page turning and scanning, Intuitive finger-writing and annotation, Easy PDF import via Dropbox, Email, iTunes, Categorized bookshelves with search, Export annotated PDFs via email, Pinch zoom and crop page margins

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2-Month Pass | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1-Year Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime License | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Great annotation tools
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 📚 Excellent for students and academics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 💸 Expensive paid version
- 📤 Difficulty exporting annotated PDFs
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🖍️ Inconsistent behavior of highlighting and erasing

**Reported bugs**

- Annotated PDFs losing data during export
- Crashes after recent app updates
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Incorrect page numbering and navigation

**Requested features**

- Add text typing and editing capabilities
- Implement a table of contents feature
- Improve integration with cloud storage services
- Allow custom organization of PDF files
- Enhance the note-taking experience


### XNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-infinite-boards-and-notes/id1644300153)

This app offers unlimited whiteboards, PDF annotation, and notebook creation in a simple, intuitive interface. It allows for jotting down ideas, studying materials, and taking daily notes with smooth performance and flexible organization.

**Highlights:** Unlimited whiteboards, PDF annotation, Notebook creation, File organization with folders, Web, photo, and file browsing within the app, Quick search functionality, One-click export and sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pdf free?

pdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is XNote free?

XNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, pdf or XNote?

XNote is rated higher. pdf averages 3.3 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while XNote averages 4.6 from 76 ratings.

### Do pdf or XNote have ads?

pdf shows ads; XNote does not.

### Which is updated more often, pdf or XNote?

pdf ships an update every 3 weeks, and XNote weekly. Most recently, pdf was updated on September 3, 2026 and XNote on August 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*